Apparatus for charging containers with liquid



APPARATUS FOR CHARGING CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Filed July 18. 1962 Sept.14, 1965 J. M. COZZOLI ETAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mar/ems Pum s iqul.

NH 2 a i1 INVENTORS dose-Pu N. Cozzou Mvw E Sega/van United StatesPatent 3,205,920 APPARATUS FUR CHARGHNG CONTAINERS WITH LIQUID Joseph M.Cozzoli, North Plainficld, and Harold F. Scribner, Westfield, N491,assignors to Coach Machine Company, Plainfield, N.J., a corporation ofNew Jersey Filed July 18, 1962, Ser. No. 210,801 13 Claims. (Cl. 1419ti)This invention relates to a liquid charging apparatus, that is to say,an apparatus for delivering a measured quantity of a liquid into acontainer. Although the in- Vention will be described in detailhereinafter with respect to a multiple line-filler, to wit, a machine inwhich all the bottles in a moving group of bottles are filledsimultaneously by a flying multiple filling head (a multiple fillinghead which moves at the same speed as the group of bottles), wherein thehead experiences vertical movement relative to the bottles and alsomovement in a fixed horizontal path along with the bottles, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not necessarily limited to such exampleand is equally useful in simpler charging machines, e.g., machines inwhich bottles are stationary during charging, machines in which bottlesare charged one at a time, and machines in which the bottles rather thanthe filling heads are moved vertically.

One of the difiiculties that has plagued liquid charging apparatuses andwas aggravated in an apparatus of such character which had a flyingvertically-movable filling head was the drip of liquid from a fillingnozzle after the nozzle was withdrawn from a container and after theforced flow of liquid to the nozzle from a metering unit had been cutoff. Despite such cutoff a drop or two, or more, of accumulated liquidtended to fall from the nozzle because at least a portion of a surfaceover which liquid discharge took place remained exposed after the forcedflow of liquid had ceased and the liquid remaining thereon tended tocoalesce into an overheavy mass from which portions detached themselvesunder the influence of gravity. Horizontal and vertical movement of thenozzle encouraged this ditficulty because of inertial forces generatedby starting or stopping movement of the nozzle. Moreover, since, asoften was the case, the nozzle was connected by a flexible feed tube toa metering device, e.g., a positive dispacement measuring pump, anymovement of the nozzle (either vertical or horizontal) flexed the feedtube and created a mild pumping action that led to an unwanted dischargeof liquid from the nozzle. Such discharge of liquid was undesirable fromthe point of accuracy of fill and of economy where the liquid to becharged into the container was costly. The post terminal discharge alsodirtied the apparatus and when it was permitted to accumulate andharden, interfered with proper operation of the apparatus. Even furtherwhen the liquid was viscous it would not cut off cleanly and wouldstring out over a row of containers and would make it necessary to cleanthe exteriors of the containers before they were saleable.

Various suggestions have been made to overcome these drawbacks. Forinstance, anti-drip devices have been proposed that included meteringcutoffs, subatmospheric liquid pullbacks and foot valves but none ofthese has been wholly satisfactory. The metering cutoiis still allowedliquid drops to accumulate at and around the discharge orifice of thedischarge nozzle and did nothing to prevent the pumping action of aflexing feed tube. Sub- ,atmospheric liquid pressure applicators byreducing the pressure in the feed tube overcame the said unwantedpumping action and tended to pull remnant liquid back into the dischargenozzle and even into the feed tube. However they could do nothing forliquid which accumulated at and around the discharge orifice and theyrobbed 3,2fi5,92 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 fluid from the discharge nozzleand from the feed tube, thus destroying accuracy of fill. Moreover theseapplicators were costly and bulky, required additional equipment (e.g.,a suction pump, additional tubing and valves) and added considerably tothe upkeep of the filling apparatus. Foot valves (valves at the outflowterminals of filling nozzles) have thus far been ineffectual becausethey permitted liquid to flow over a surface which was exposed after thevalve was closed and this liquid accumulated on the exterior of thevalve from where it would drip or would shake off when the nozzlestarted and stopped.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for an apparatus ofthe character described an anti-drip device which is not subject to theforegoing drawbacks.

It is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described an anti-drip device which is simple and positive inoperation and requires very little maintenance.

It is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described an anti-drip device which constitutes relatively fewparts and is inexpensive to make and use.

It is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described an anti-drip device which minimizes accumulation ofliquid on the exterior surface of the discharge nozzle and is unaffectedby the pumping action of a flexing feed tube.

It is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described an anti-drip device which requires no auxiliary pumpor additional tubing.

It is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described an anti-drip device which constitutes a foot valvethat has when closed no exposed surface over which liquid flow tookplace when the valve was open.

It is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described an anti-drip device which constitutes a special formof foot valve that removes as by wiping the exterior remnant (postterminal) liquid each time that the filling nozzle is closed.

it is another object of the invention to provide for an apparatus of thecharacter described a device that will cut off cleanly and sharply thefinal portion of the discharge and which is particularly useful inconjunction with viscous fluids since it thereby is able to prevent theformation of hanging strings.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of constructioncombinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will beexemplified in the anti-drip devices hereinafter described and of whichthe scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a multiple line filler whichincludes a group of filling nozzles that have anti-drip devicesconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view through one of thenozzles shown in FIG. 1, the same being taken substantially along theline Z2 of FIG. 1 and illustrating the nozzle in closed (shut off)position above a container;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the nozzle open andinside the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lower end of the filling nozzle inopen position;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a vertical central sectional view of the lower end of a closedfilling nozzle embodying a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the nozzle in openposition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the lower end of the nozzle shown inFIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 6.

In general the several objects of the invention are achieved byproviding a filling nozzle that includes an inner discharge tubetelescopically ensheathed in an outer valve sleeve, the tube and sleevebeing relatively movable and experiencing joint movement relative to acontainer. The joint movement enables the nozzle to be inserted into andwithdrawn from a container to be filled. The relative movement shiftsthe parts of the nozzle between open and closed condition. The lower endof the discharged tube has an imperforate bottom wall that completelycloses said lower end so that there is no chance for any liquid to flowtherethrough. Adjacent and preferably immediately above this bottom wallthe discharge tube is provided with at least one, and optionally more,laterally outwardly facing discharge openings. It is a unique andimportant feature of the present invention that the aforesaid bottomwall has a plan contour (a contour in a plane perpendicular to thelength of the discharge tube) which closely matches the inner transversecontour of the lower end of the valve sleeve, the latter being ofuniform cross-section. Said valve sleeve thus is snugly (closely)slidable on the discharge tube. Moreover the relative movablerelationship between the discharge tube and the valve sleeve is suchthat the discharge tube is fully, that is to say entirely, receivedwithin the valve sleeve when the nozzle is shifted from open to closedposition so that as this occurs, the valve sleeve will wipe off theouter peripheral surface of the bottom wall of the discharge tube so asto minimize the presence of external liquid on the nozzle when it is inclosed position. In order to achieve the aforesaid purpose of theinvention, the lower end of the valve sleeve must be inperforate andcover the discharge opening in closed position and must be raised abovethe discharge opening when the nozzle is open so that the liquiddischarge from the nozzle takes place below the valve sleeve and thevalve sleeve accordingly is not exposed to and therefore does notaccumulate liquid on its outer surface each time discharge from thenozzle takes place. It is to be observed that with this arrangement thelower end of the filling nozzle consitutes a foot valve that has whenclosed no exposed surface over which liquid flow took place when thevalve was open.

In a particularly preferred form of the present invention theimperforate bottom wall of the discharge tube has a concave lowersurface and indeed this surface desirably is upwardly concave tolocalize any liquid about its lower peripheral margin where it is wipedoff so as to fall within the container each time the valve is closed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral 10denotes a multiple line filler. Except for the special anti-drip devicewhich is the subject of the instant invention, the multiple line fillermay be of any conventional construction. Typical fillers of this typeare illustrated, for example, in United States Letters Patent 1,700,494for a Filling Machine'issued January 29, 1929, and 1,992,464 forStraight Line Multiple Filling Machine, issued February 26, 1935.Another typical machine of the same nature and which is essentiallysimilar to the multiple line filler 10 depicted in the accompanyingdrawings, is shown, described and claimed in application Serial No.45,089 filed July 25, 1960, now Patent No. 3,100,513, issued August 13,1963 for Multiple Line Fillers by Joseph M. Cozzoli and Harold FScribner. The particular details of the multiple line filler 10 are nota part of the present invention; nevertheless the following simpledescription of the basic elements of such a filler will assist inunderstanding the operation of the within unique anti-drip device.

The multiple line filler 10 includes a frame (not shown) from which thevarious moving parts are supported. One of the moving parts constitutesan endless conveyor such, for instance, as a belt 12 trained about guideand drive pulleys of which only one pulley 14 is shown. Said pulleyslead and move the endless conveyer 12 through a path which includes ahorizontal reach that is supported on a horizontal plate 15 whichconstitutes a part of the stationary frame of the machine. Containers,such, for instance, as bottles 16, are located on the horizontal reachand are moved without stopping at a constant speed of travel through theillustrated filling station of said machine. The placement of thebottles on the conveyer and their removal therefrom is being performedeither automatically or manually. Said bottles are located on theconveyer in uniformly spaced and predetermined positions. The containersmove in the direction indicated by the arrow A. The only containers thathave been shown are those directly below the filling nozzles. Theremainder of the containers have been omitted for simplicity ofillustration.

The containers are adapted to be filled (charged) by a flying fillinghead 20. Said head includes a group of filling nozzles 22, four beingshown in the drawings. The actual number will depend upon the design ofthe machine. Suitable means is included to reciprocate the flyingfilling head in two different directions. One direction is vertical forinsertion of the group of filling nozzles into a corresponding group ofbottles 16 and subsequent withdrawal from the bottles. The otherdirection is horizontal to match the speed of movement of the fillinghead to the speed of movement of the bottles with the conveyor duringthe discharge cycle of the metering pumps and then to return the fillingheads to a position above the next succeeding group of bottles.

More particularly the flying filling head 20 includes a platform 24 towhich the filling nozzles are secured. The platform is provided withwheels 26 that slidably mount said platform on a horizontal elongatedbar 28 for reciprocating movement restricted to a direction parallel tothe length of the bar. The bar 28 is attached at its opposite ends tovertical posts 30 slidable in vertical journals 32 (only one of which isshown) that are fast to the frame of the machine. The lower end of eachpost 30 is provided with a follower 34 that rides on a cam 36 fixed on ahorizontal cam shaft 38. The cam is eccentric with respect to the shaft38 and is so configured that for each revolution of the cam shaft posts30, and therefore the bar 28, will be raised once and lowered once. Inthe uppermost position the tips of the filling nozzles are higher thanthe bottles and in lowermost position the tips of the filling nozzlesare inside the bottles. Since the platform 24 rides on the bar 28 saidplatform likewise will be raised once and lowered once for eachrevolution of the cam shaft 38. Each such revolution constitutes onecycle of operation of the multiple line filler.

Another cam shaft 40 is kinematically connected, e.g., by gearing, tothe cam shaft 38 so as to turn synchronously therewith. The two shaftsare connected in a one-to-one turns relationship. The shaft 40 hasmounted thereon a closed cam track 42 in which there rides a camfollower 44. Said cam follower is mounted on one end of a connectinglink 46 the other end of which is pivoted by a pin 48 to an actuatinglink 50 the lower end of which is pivoted to the frame. A guide link 52pivoted to the connecting link 46 and to the frame holds the link 46 inproper position during its operation. The upper end of the actuatinglink has mounted thereon a roller 54 that rides in a verticallyelongated slot 56 formed in a depending arm 58 functionally integralwith the platform 24.

By virtue of the foregoing construction, as the two shafts 38, 40 rotatein synchronism, the platform 24 will be raised and lowered and will behorizontally shifted to and fro. The two cam tracks are so relativelyand independently configured and synchronized to movement of theconveyor that the filling head will experience the following movementfor each cycle of the machine.

After filling a group of bottles the head, while still moving with andat the same speed as the bottles, is raised to lift the filling nozzlesfrom the bottles. As soon as the nozzles have been Withdrawn the flyingfilling head is moved in a direction opposite to the arrow A until thefilling nozzles reach a fresh group of bottles just behind the group ofbottles that last has been filled. Then the filling head is lowered toinsert the filling nozzles into the necks of the fresh group of bottles.The filling head, as this occurs, has its direction of travel reversedand is moved forward with and at the same speed as the bottles while themetering pumps are actuated to force liquid through the filling nozzlesinto the bottles. Since the present invention is not concerned with allof these details reference is made to the aforesaid patents andapplication to more fully explain the mechanism for moving the fillinghead and synchronizing it to the conveyor.

Each of the filling nozzles 22 is connected to a separate metering meansschematically illustrated as a group at 60 by a different flexible tube62. The metering means may be of any standard construction as, forexample, they may constitute a series of metering pumps which areadjustable so that during the discharge portion of each cycle apredetermined, i.e., measured, amount of liquid will be forced throughthe flexible tubes to each discharge nozzle and thence into the bottlein which the nozzle then is located. The tubes, for example, mayconstitute a flexible synthetic plastic such, for instance, as apolyvinyl plastic or rubber. The flexibility is desired in order topermit the fiying filling head to reciprocate vertically andhorizontally as it performs its previously indicated functions. Howeverbecause the tubes experience changes in curvature upon the movement ofthe filling head, said tubes tend to constrict and expand creating amild pumping action which as noted previously might cause undesired postterminal discharge of liquid from the nozzles after the metering meansare cut off and during a non-filling portion of the cycle unless, ofcourse, this discharge is prevented, as it is, by the anti-drip devicewhich is the subject of the present invention.

All of the filling nozzles are alike and therefore only one such nozzlewill be described in detail, this being best shown in F165. 25. At itsupper end each filling nozzle includes a thimble 64 which is tightly butremovably fitted in a vertical through opening 66 in the platform 24. Athin-walled vertical pipe 68 is tightly fitted into the thimble 64 andextends upwardly from the thimble where it is coupled to the associatedflexible tube 62. Fast on the lower end of the thimble and incommunication with the bore through the thimble and therefore incommunication with the pipe 68, is a straight vertical dependentdischarge tube 70. The lower, i.e., bottom, end of the discharge tube iscompletely blocked by an irnperforate bottom wall 72. Immediatelyadjacent said bottom wall the sides of the discharge tube are formedwith a pair of diametrically opposed laterally outwardly facingdischarge openings 74.

The bottom wall 72 may be shaped to encourage lateral deflection ofliquid leaving the discharge tube through the openings 74. For thispurpose the bottom wall is formed to an upwardly projecting inverteddihedral V-shaped configuration with the plane sides of the Vrespectively facing toward the two discharge openings. Moreover, for apurpose which will be explained hereinafter, the external surface of thebottom wall including the lower end of the external surface of thedischarge tube is upwardly concave whereby to form an upwardly extendingwell 76.

Telescopically ensheathed around the outside of the discharge tube is anouter valve sleeve 78 having an open bottom end, the sides of whichadjacent said open end are imperforate. The lower end of the bore of thevalve sleeve is uniform and closely matches in cross-section andconfiguration the external cross-sectional configuration of the bottomwall of the discharge tube. Thereby this bottom wall functions as aclosely fitting sliding journal to support the valve sleeve. The fit isso close that liquid will not flow between the two sliding surfacesunless the liquid is under substantial pressure.

Although the entire length of the discharge tube 7 0 may precisely matchthe uniform internal configuration of the valve sleeve this develops anunnecessarily great friction opposing the relative sliding movement ofthe two parts. Therefore in the preferred form of the invention only afew, desirably only two, zones of the discharge tube engage the insideof the valve sleeve with a close sliding fit. One of these zones is, ofcourse, the closed bottom end of the discharge tube so that this closedbottom end in combination with the valve sleeve will constitute a footvalve. Preferably, moreover, the aforesaid zone includes the portion ofthe discharge tube up to the upper level of the discharge openings so asto prevent accumulation of liquid within the valve sleeve when saidsleeve is in its lowermost position. The other zone may be at any upperportion of the discharge tube. Except for these two zones therefore theremainder of the discharge tube may be of slightly lessercross-sectional dimensions so as to provide more than a slidingclearance between the discharge tube and the valve sleeve. It has beenfound that the aforesaid two zones where the close sliding fit isprovided can most readily be constructed by increasing the diameter ofthe discharge tube thereat as by plating. More specifically, thedischarge tube is enlarged slightly (a few thousandths of an inch indiameter) at its bottom end and at a second zone 80 by depositing hardchrome plate at such two zones. After deposit of the chrome plate thesetwo zones of the discharge tube are precisely ground down to provide aclose sliding fit with the bore of the valve sleeve.

Operating means also is included to cause the valve sleeve 78 toexperience relative movement with respect to the discharge tube 7%. Suchoperating means may be motivated in any manner whatsoever and isactuated in synchronism with the movement of the filling nozzle, itbeing understood that the timing will be such that the valve sleeve willbe in raised position when the metering means is operative (the fillingnozzle is located within a bottle) and will be in lowered position afterthe metering means is cut off. Said operating means for each valvesleeve is here shown to comprise a pneumatic actuator 82 that includes acylinder 84 in which there is slidable a piston (not shown). Air underpressure is selectively admitted to either the upper or lower end of thecylinder through one or the other of tubes 86, 88 the other tube beingconnected to the atmosphere. Obviously when air under pressure isadmitted to the upper end of the cylinder the piston will be driven downand when pressurized air is admitted to the lower end of the cylinderthe piston will be driven up.

The piston is connected to a piston rod 90 the lower end of whichcarries a fork M the twin arms of which ride in an annular horizontalgroove 94 formed in the periphery of a ring 95 fast on the upper end ofthe valve sleeve 78. The stroke of the pneumatic actuator is such thatin its lower position the valve sleeve wholly contains the lower end ofthe discharge tube as shown in FIG. 2 and in its upper position thevalve sleeve fully exposes the discharge openings '74; this latterposition is the flow position of the discharge nozzle and in it thevalve sleeve is clear of the outflowing liquid. It now will be apparentthat in closed position the foot valve has no exposed surface over whichflow of fluid takes place when the valve is open.

It is desirable to include in conjunction with each filling nozzle acentering device 93 that will center the open mouth of a bottleconcentric with the tip of the associated filling nozzle. Such centeringdevice may comprise, as shown, a heavy plug slidable on the valve sleeveand having a downwardly facing flaring conical recess 102 adapted torest on the mouth of a bottle and to exactly center the same withrespect to the associated filling nozzle. The plug has a circularretainer 104 secured thereto. The retainer is provided with a pair ofupwardly extending parallel spindles 106 that are slidable in matchingopenings in the platform 24-. The upper ends of the spindles are headedas at 108 so that when the filling nozzles are in elevated position theplug will not drop freely. The length of the spindles 106 is such thatwhen the headed upper ends engage the platform the small end of theconical recess in the plug 100 will be at the level of the lower end ofthe discharge tube. When the filling head is aligned with a group ofbottles and descends, the Walls of the conical recesses will rest on themouths of the associated bottles and center the same with respect to thedischarge nozzles before the discharge nozzles are inserted in saidmouths.

In the operation of the filler 10, as each filling nozzle descends invertical alignment with the mouth of the associated bottle, the valvesleeve of such nozzle is in its lowermost position relative to thedischarge tube and therefore functions as a foot valve to preventaccidental discharge of liquid. After the lower end of the fillingnozzle has entered the bottle and is properly positioned therein or asthis entry and positioning is effected, the associated pneumaticactuator 82 is energized to lift the valve sleeve on the discharge tubeand thereby expose the discharge ports 74. Simultaneously with theopening of the discharge opening the metering means is energized tocause a measured amount of liquid to flow through the associatedflexible tube 62 and filling nozzle into the bottle as the bottle ismoved by the conveyor. After a proper amount of liquid has beenintroduced into the botle the metering means is cut off and the fillingnozzle is raised, and before, or shortly after, the filling nozzle israised but after or when the metering means is cut off, the pneumaticactuator 82 is reversely energized to lower the valve sleeve withrespect to the discharge tube so that the sleeve fully telescopicallyreceives the lower end of the discharge tube as shown in FIG. 2. Thislowering of the valve sleeve causes the valve sleeve to wipe off theexterior lateral surface of the discharge tube around the dischargeopenings and to wipe off the exterior lateral surface of the closedbottom end and of the discharge tube so that there will be no tendencyfor liquid to accumulate on the exterior of the discharge nozzle fromwhich it subsequently can be shaken loose because either of the inertialforces developed during movement of the discharge nozzle or because ofthe mild internal pressure developed by flexing of the tubing 62 duringmovement of the flying filling head.

As the valve sleeve is lowered it will wipe off any liquid on thedischarge tube around the discharge openings and also will wipe off theexterior lateral surface of the enclosed bottom end of the dischargetube. All this remnant liquid will be transferred to the periphery ofthe bottom wall by such wiping action. The upwardly concave shape of theundersurface of said bottom wall prevents the liquid from flowing upsuch bottom wall so that the liquid concentrates at the periphery of thebottom Wall. Such concentration of the liquid over a small area providesvery little support for the liquid whereby the pendulous liquid willdrop off into the bottle. Indeed, the wiped off liquid must hang fromthe knife edge configuration of the bottom wall thereby providing noreal support for the liquid so that when the foot valve constituted bythe valve sleeve and the discharge tube closes, the remnant pendulousmass of liquid will drop into the bottle providing a sharp cut-off upondescent of the valve sleeve. This sharp cut-off is very useful foraccurate dispensing of liquid and for preventing postterminal discharge.It is of additional utility in connection with viscous liquids becausethe sharp cut-off prevents the formation of hanging strings that tend todirty the filling machine or bottles beneath the filling nozzles.

Although the invention functions satisfactorily with the construction asabove described, improved results are obtained where the valve sleeve isof small wall thickness, e.g., in the order of from about 0.01 to about0.06 inch. Moreover depending upon the nature of the liquid handled itsometimes is desirable to provide an inside or an outside chamfer forthe lower end of the valve sleeve. The drawings illustrate the internalchamfer which obtains excellent results with watery (light) liquids. Theexternal chamfer is preferred for use with syrupy (heavy) liquids.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 69, the modificationentailing a different configuration of the bottom end of the dischargetube which provides only a single lateral direction of flow for liquiddischarge. In this modified embodiment of the invention the dischargenozzle 22. includes a straight vertical discharge tube which istelescopically ensheathed in a matching valve sleeve 7%. Suitable meanssuch, for instance, as a pneumatic actuator (not shown) is included toprovide relative movement between the discharge tube and valve sleeve.The discharge tube includes an imperforate bottom wall 72 of planeconfiguration that is inclined to the horizontal so that one end thereofis considerably lower than the other. Thus this bottom wall acts as adeflector plate that causes liquid leaving the discharge tube to flowoutwardly to one side only of the discharge nozzle. The discharge tubeis cut away as at 108 above the lower end of the bottom wall to form adischarge opening 110. The bottom wall is configured and dimensioned toprovide a close sliding fit with the inside of the valve sleeve.Accordingly said bottom wall is of oval configuration. Said dischargenozzle 22' operates in the same fashion as the discharge nozzle 22.

It thus will be seen that there are provided devices which achieve theseveral objects of the invention, and which are well adapted to meet theconditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiments set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein described or shown in theaccompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An elongated filling nozzle assembly for an apparatus for charging anupright container with liquid, said filling nozzle assembly comprising adischarge tube having a lateral discharge opening adjacent to its bottomend, the bottom end of said tube being completely closed, an outer valvesleeve telescopically ensheathing said tube and longitudinally slidablethereon, means to support the nozzle with its longitudinal axisvertical, means to move the tube and sleeve as a unit vertically from anelevated position above a container disposed beneath the same to alowered position in which the bottom of the unit is within the containerand then back to the elevated position, and means operable with the tubestationary in lowered position to move said sleeve up on said tube froma first extreme position fully receiving the closed bottom end of thetube to a second extreme position exposing the discharge opening andthen back to said first extreme position, the sides of said sleeveadjacent the bottom end thereof being imperforate and having a closesliding fit with the entire exterior surface of the closed bottom end ofthe tube whereby the sleeve as it approaches the first extreme positionwipes off the periphery of the tube at the bottom end and in conjunctionwith the tube functions as a closed foot valve and whereby such footvalve when closed has no exposed surface over which liquid flow takesplace when the foot valve is open.

2. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein thedischarge tube has two opposite lateral discharge openings adjacent tothe bottom end thereof and wherein a deflector is disposed between saidopenings to split the flow of liquid.

3. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bottomwall of the tube is sloped with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidtube and wherein the discharge opening has a lower edge defined by saidbottom end.

4. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bottomend is flat.

5. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein thedischarge tube has two zones slidably engaging the interior of thesleeve, one of the zones constituting the periphery of the bottom end ofthe tube, the other of said zones being an annular band spaced abovesaid first zone, said tube between said zones being slightly smallerthan at said zones so as to clear the sleeve.

6. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the twozones constitute hard chrome plating on the discharge tube.

7. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sleevemoving means comprises an actuating member having two power-displaceablemembers, one of which is secured to the tube and the other to thesleeve.

8. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the undersurface of the bottom end of the tube is concave.

9. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the undersurface of the bottom end of the tube is conically concaved.

10. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein theperiphery of the well meets the sides of the discharge tube in a knifeedge configuration.

11. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 1, which furtherincludes an intermittently operable stationary metered supply of liquid,and a flexible tube connecting said nozzle to said supply, said tubebeing flexed when the tube and sleeve are moved vertically, said nozzlebeing closed when the supply is idle so as to prevent post terminaldischarge of liquid therefrom when the nozzle is moved and the flexingof the tube reduces the volumetric capacity thereof to create a pumpingaction.

12. A filling nozzle assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the meansfor moving the tube and sleeve as a unit is constructed and arranged toreciprocate the tube and sleeve as a unit horizontally and vertically.

-13. A combination comprising an intermittently operable stationarymetered supply of liquid, a filling nozzle having a foot valve that isclosed when the nozzle is idle, means to move the nozzle relative to acontainer to be filled, and a flexible tube connecting the nozzle to thesaid metered supply, said tube being flexed when the nozzle is moved,said foot valve preventing post terminal discharge of liquid from thenozzle when the nozzle is moved with the supply idle and the flexing ofthe tube reduces the volumetric capacity thereof to create a pumpingaction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,216,574 2/17Kiefer 141-296 1,992,464 2/ 35 Blackman 141-50 2,292,754 8/42 Gladfelter141-286 2,848,145 8/58 Livingstone 222-571 XR 2,919,057 12/59 Halpern222-571 XR 2,940,724 6/60 Sieling 222-571 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 55,924 3/44Netherlands.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ELONGATED FILLING NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR AN APPARATUS FOR CHARGING ANUPRIGHT CONTAINER WITH LIQUID, SAID FILLING NOZZLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING ADISCHARGE TUBE HAVING A LATERAL DISCHARGE OPENIGN ADJACENT TO ITS BOTTOMEND, THE BOTTOM END OF SAID TUBE BEING COMPLETELY CLOSED, AN OUTER VALVESLEEVE TELESCOPICALLY ENSHEATHING SAID TUBE AND LONGITUDINALLY SLIDABLETHEREON, MEANS TO SUPPORT THE NOZZLE WITH IT LONGITUDINAL AXIS VERTICAL,MEANS TO MOVE THE TUBE AND SLEEVE AS A UNIT VERTICALLY FROM AN ELEVATEDPOSITION ABOVE A CONTAINER DISPOSED BENEATH THE SAME TO A LOWEREDPOSITION IN WHICH THE BOTTOM OF THE UNIT IS WITHIN THE CONTAINER ANDTHEN BACK TO THE ELEVATED POSITION, AND MEANS OPERABLE WITH THE TUBESTATIONARY IN LOWERED POSITION TO MOVE SAID SLEEVE UP ON SAID TUBE FROMA FIRST EXTREME POSITION FULLY RECEVING THE CLOSED BOTTOM END OF THETUBE TO A SECOND EXTREME POSITION EXPOSING THE DISCHARGE OPENING ANDTHEN BACK TO SAID FIRST EXTREME POSITION, THE SIDES OF SAID SLEEVEADJACENT THE BOTOM END THEREOF BEING IMPERFORATE AND HAVING A CLOSEDSLIDING FIT WITH THE ENTIRE EXTERIOR SURFACE OF THE CLOSED BOTTOM END OFTHE TUBE WHEREBY THE SLEEVE AS IT APPROACHES THE FIRST EXTREME POSITIONWIPES OFF THE PERIPHERY OF THE TUBE AT THE BOTTOM END AND IN CONJUNCTIONWITH THE TUBE FUNCTIONS AS A CLOSED HAS NO EXPOSED AND WHEREBY SUCH FOOTVALVE WHEN CLOSED HAS NO EXPOSED SURFACE OVER WHICH LIQUID FLOW TAKESPLACE WHEN THE FOOT VALVE IS OPEN.
 13. A COMBINATION COMPRISING ANINTERMITTENTLY OPERABLE STATIONARY METERED SUPPLY OF LIQUID, A FILLINGNOZZLE HAVING A FOOT VALVE THAT IS CLOSED WHEN THE NOZZLE IS IDLE, MEANSTO MOVE THE NOZZLE RELATIVE TO A CONTAINER TO BE FILLED, AND A FLEXIBLETUBE CONNECTING THE NOZZLE TO THE SAID METERED SUPPLY, SAID TUBE BEINGFLEXED WHEN THE NOZZLE IS MOVED, SAID FOOT VALVE PREVENTING POSTTERMINAL DISCHARGE OF LIQUID FROM THE NOZZLE WHEN THE NOZZLE IS MOVEDWITH THE SUPPLY IDLE AND THE FLEXING OF THE TUBE REDUCES THE VOLUMETRICCAPACITY THEREOF TO CREATE A PUMPING ACTION.